specifics on autotrain

[bdcp]

While I have observed seniors with attitude on the autotrain (and cruises as we have cruised 8 times so far and have two more scheduled this year) on all our trips as we have traveled in Nov which is a heavy snowbird month, they can think proprietarily all they want, but the reality is other than Apr and Nov when most snowbirds travel, the true high number of travelers are families with children. We'll see what it is like in Oct, probably a few snowbirds, but not as many as our previous trips. Some seniors really think they deserve certain things because they've been around longer. When in reality, they are just being out and out rude and mean sometimes. Our trip going down in Oct we have a bedroom so not much dealing with everyone. On the return we'll be in coach, but in Oct going north, it shouldn't be crowded or full of snowbirds.

We took our autotrain trips in 05, 06 and 08 and the movies were all family friendly so I have to wonder what the problem is. You'd think the seniors would come prepared, but from what I've observed in the lounge during the movie, the only seniors are the ones playing cards and talking/hanging out, not watching the screen.

 

[MrsNick]

I think some seniors (certainly not all!) just have too much time on their hands and have nothing better to do than complain about non-issues.

In the condo where we used to live, there was one senior woman who would take a walk around the grounds daily and look for the tiniest problem (I mean it was almost to the point where if a leaf was out of place she would take note of it). She would then proceed to harangue the poor security guard over her litany of issues. It was ridiculous; where we lived was really nice and well-maintained. In my mind, she just had too much time. She also constantly complained about the dogs who lived in the complex (and there was no rule that banned dogs, but she would go and pick on the dog owners for nothing).

I often wonder why people like that don't find a part time job or go volunteer somewhere or offer to help out others who are in need and improve the world around them. But no, they just try to make everyone else as miserable as they are.

 

[bicker]

@bdcp It'll be interesting to contrast our April experience with our upcoming January experience, in light of your observations.

 

[ktrain]

Snowbirds travel on the Auto train from September to May, mostly at the beginning and end of each month. (People often stay for only one or two months)
Movies that are chosen are supposed to be G/PG, occasionally a sex scene or fbomb passes by and the movie has to be replaced. Cartoons are usually only shown in the summer months, however since a movie was deemed unacceptable a cartoon/kiddie movie was put in its place. Snowbirds unhappy.
To be fair, both of these movies Yogi Bear and Teenage Dragon Slayer are both terrible.
On the bright side the movies change every month.

 

[bdcp]

I cant' tell you how many seniors I've been in line with checking in at the station in Nov who confirm their return trip for April. And the rest we've met at dinner who do the same thing. Occasionally, they travel back for Christmas or Thanksgiving, but a great number stay in FL through the entire winter.

 

[I Love Pluto]

Thank you - some of you - for stating that not all seniors are PITAs! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[bicker]

Keep in mind that some of the folks complaining about seniors are seniors themselves. There is a delineation between people who are amenable to the consequences of living in a community with other folks, even though that sometimes might mean deprioritization of their own personal preferences, including those that are very long-standing and arguably reflections of something that could be called "tradition".